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Students released on bail, case against Congressmen

College students campaigning against Congress on Sri Lankan Tamils issue at Chathiram bus stand in Tiruchi on Thursday.— Photo: A. Muralitharan

The six students arrested by the police on Wednesday for damaging digital banners put up by the Congress party under Public Property Damage Act have been released on bail.

The students, of whom three are under treatment at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital for injuries sustained in the attack by Congressmen, were released on bail on the discretion of the investigating officer, official sources said. The 27 persons who were arrested on Wednesday night for holding a demonstration at the Cantonment police station demanding the release of students were also let off.

The Cantonment police have registered a case against Congressmen, including M. Rajasekharan, former MLA and District Congress president (North), based on the complaint preferred by the students, police sources said, adding that the attackers of students would be identified and tracked on the basis of media photographs and visuals.

Leaders of pro-Eelam parties and outfits called on the students. Expressing solidarity with the students late last night, MDMK general secretary Vaiko charged the Congress with carrying out a premeditated attack on the students whose peaceful protests for the Tamil Eelam had been remarkable.

On Thursday morning, groups of students conducted campaigns at the Chathiram Bus Stand distributing pamphlets assailing the Congress as enemies of Eelam Tamils.

Condemning the attack by the Congressmen, they demanded withdrawal of “foisted” case registered against the six students, and the arrest of the attackers.

They called upon the student community to work for political isolation of the Congress in Tamil Nadu, and accelerate the struggle to bring about right to self-determination of Eelam Tamils.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Mr. Rajasekharan said the students’ act of destroying the banners and humiliating party leaders by hitting their portraits with footwear in the presence of the police was a deliberate ploy to create a ruckus. The students were the cause for the clash, he said.

The statement issued on behalf of Tiruchi District Congress Committee castigated pro-Eelam leaders charging them with attempting to create an impression that Congress was enemy of Lankan Tamils, and advised students to reform themselves in the interests of their future.